Ceiling-block connector for incandescent lamps



(No Model.)

C I L. W. DILLON. CEILING BLOCK CONNECTOR FOR INCANDESCENT LAMPS. No. 431,038.

Patented July 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS VY. DILLON, OF NORTH ATTLEBOROUGI-I, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HOMER M. DAGGETT, JR, OF ATlLEBOROUGI-l, MASSACHUSETTS.

CEILING-BLOCK CONNECTOR FOR INCANDESCENT LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,038, dated July 1, 1890.

Application filed August 26,1889. Serial No. 321,984. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS W. DILLON, of North Attleborough, county of Bristol, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Out-Out and Connector, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings represent ing like parts.

My invention relates to a connecting device or cut-out such as employed for making'con: nection between main current-s upplying wires or leads and a supplied branch and for automatically severing such connection in case the current is abnormally increased. The said connecting device is composed of two members, one a base adapted to be connected with the wall or ceiling of an apartment and provided with clamps to make connection with the main wires or leads. The other member is a cap containing contact-pieces to form the terminals of the supplied branch; and the invention relates, mainly, to the construction of the devices for affording at the same time secure mechanical connection between the base and cap and good electrical connection between the conductors on said members while providing for the ready separation or removal and replacement of the cap.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a connecting device embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the side of the cap that comes next the base portion; Fig. 3, a plan view of the base portion with the cap removed; Figs. 4 and 5, details of the engaging portions 011 said cap and base piece.

The base a may be composed of wood or other suitable material and is adapted to be securely fastened upon the wall or ceiling of an apartment. It is preferably provided with a shallow countersink, as shown at a to receive the engaging wings of the cap portion 1), and with a central depression c to receive an axial inward extension I) on the cap portion for the purpose of conveniently centering the cap relative to the base in connecting the two together.

The base a is provided at opposite sides with main-wire clamps 0 0 to which the main leads cl d are electrically connected by means of clamps or screws 6 6 The said clamppieces 0 c extend inward toward the center of the base-piece far enough to come within the periphery of the cap, as shown in Fig. 1, and are provided with overhanging lips or projections 0 extending over the countersunk portion a of the base-piece.

The cap I) is provided with binding-screw connectors ff for receiviugthe terminals of the supplied branch circuit, which terminals pass through the central opening in the cap and through notches in the central projection 73 thereof, as shown. The cap is also provided with fastening and circuit-conn ecting devices g g fastened upon it about midway between the wire-clamps f f and adapted to be elec trically connected with said wire-clamps by easily-fusible wires or safety devices 7b 71 which melt away and thus break the branch circuit in case the current is dangerously in- 70. creased. The said fastening and circuit-connecting devices g g are made, as best shown in Fig. 5, each consisting of a base portion 9 rigidly fastened to the cap and having at its end an upright g terminating in a curved 75 cam-shaped arm 9 which, when the cap is placed up snugly against the base portion, comes beneath the overhanging projections c of the main-wire clamps. The outer surface of said arms are cam-shaped, as shown,and by placing the said arms about midway between the main-wire clamps and giving the cap a quarter-turn the said arms will engage the main-wire clamps below their overhanging portions, and, owing to their cam shape, will wedge tightly against them, so as to afford a good electrical connection, the said arms engaging mainly by their outer curved surfaces with the clamps 0 c and being slightly yielding so as to press against the wire-clamps eleco trically as the cap is turned into place. Projections g are formed at the rear ends of said cam-shaped portion to prevent the cap from being turned too far or so as to again disengage froin the main-wire clamps. The under face of the cap is countersunk, as shown, and with the countersink in the base portion forms a recess to receive the several connecting devices, which are thus wholly concealed within the instrument when the parts are connected, I00

none of the operative parts showing outside the cap, except the portion of the main-wire clamps connected with the main wires. Thus an excellent finish is afforded in connection with a reliable, efficient, and conveniently-operated means for effecting the connection and disconnection of the base and cap portion.

I claim- The combination of the base having a central depression and main-wire clamps with inward extensions, the cap having a central projection to engage with the central depression of the base, said projection having passages for the wires of the supplied branch below the portion that enters the depression of the base, and said cap having fastening and connecting pieces that engage With'said mainwire clamps by a slight rotary movement of the cap relative to the base, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. LOUIS W. DILLON. Witnesses:

J os. P. LIVERMORE,

Mrs. J. MALONEY. 

